Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [384]
“You, go to the movies by yourself? Come on, Dad. Get real.”
“Actually, I’ll probably need to work. There’s a pretty important case we’re working on. In fact, I wanted to talk to you about it.”
He pulled the photocopy from his back pocket, unfolded it and handed it to Emma.
“Do you know this girl? Her name’s Virginia Brier.”
Emma took a careful look, then set the copy aside and began on another piece of pizza.
“Is she in some kind of trouble?”
“No, she’s not in trouble.” Tully felt a wave of relief. It looked like Emma didn’t recognize the girl. Of course he had been crazy. There had been hundreds of people at the monuments Saturday night.
But before he could relax, Emma said, “She doesn’t like to be called Virginia.”
“What?”
“She uses Ginny.”
Jesus! The nausea grabbed hold again.
“So you do know her?”
“Actually, Alesha and I just met her Saturday when we were on the field trip, but yeah, she was there Saturday night, too. She sorta made us mad, because she was flirting with this boy Alesha really liked. He was really cool and he seemed to be having a good time with us until that reverend guy fawned all over Ginny.”
“Hold on a minute. Who was this boy?”
“His name’s Brandon. He was with Alice and Justin and the reverend guy.”
Tully got up and went to where he’d left his windbreaker. He started pulling everything out of his pockets and finally found the pamphlet he had picked up blowing around the FDR Memorial. He handed it to Emma.
“Is this the reverend guy?” He pointed to the color photograph on the back.
“Yeah, that’s him. Reverend Everett,” she read off the pamphlet. “Except they were all calling him Father. Seemed kinda creepy. I mean it’s not like he’s their dad or anything.”
“It’s not that weird, Emma. Catholics call priests Father. It’s sort of a title, like pastor or reverend or Mr.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t like they were using it as a title. They really were all talking about him as if he were their father, ’cause he’s their leader and like he knows what’s best for them and stuff.”
“This Brandon guy, did you see him go off with Ginny?”
“You mean like to be alone?”
“Yes.”
“Dad, there were like tons of people. Besides, Alesha and I left before the rally thing was over. It was so lame, all that singing and clapping.”
“You think you might be able to give a detailed description of Brandon?”
She looked at him as if realizing for the first time there might be some connection to the questions about Ginny and his job as an FBI agent.
“Yeah, I guess I could,” she said, her indifference changing to concern. “I thought you said Ginny wasn’t in trouble.”
He hesitated, wondering what to tell her. She wasn’t a little girl anymore, and chances were she’d hear about it soon on TV. No matter how much of a protective father he wanted to be, he couldn’t protect her from the truth. And she’d be upset with him if he lied.
He reached across the floor and took her hand, then said, “Ginny’s dead. Someone murdered her Saturday night.”
CHAPTER 32
MONDAY
November 25
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia
Maggie stole a glance at Agent Tully as they watched Agent Bobbi LaPlatz scratch several pencil lines. Magically the face on her sketch pad developed a thin, narrow nose.
“Does that look close?” she asked Emma Tully, who sat beside her, hands in her lap, her eyes examining the line drawing.
“I think so, but the lips aren’t quite right.” Emma glanced at her dad, as if waiting for him to comment. He only nodded at her.
“Too thin?” LaPlatz asked.
“Maybe it’s the mouth, not the lips. You know, like he never smiled. He sorta had this…um…frown, but not like he was mad. Just maybe like he was too tough to smile.” She flipped her hair back and gave her dad another glance. “Does that make sense?” she asked, turning back to Agent LaPlatz, her eyes darting back to check Tully’s face before returning to the paper.
“I think so. Let me give it a try.” And LaPlatz’s hand went to work, making quick, short movements. A line here, one there, transforming the entire face again with her simple number two pencil,